1889. | SENNETT on the Clapper Rails. 165 
locality, or even than winter specimens of Carolina residents, it 
is probable that saturatus is a local form of crepztans, the latter 
the prevailing form in Louisiana. 
Rallus obsoletus. This is the Pacific Coast form of Clapper 
Rail and is larger than and quite distinct from any other. The dark 
cinnamon of its under parts caused it at first to be mistaken for a 
variety of the King Rail (Radllus elegans). No other large Rail 
is so olive on its upper parts, and the dark streaks on its back are 
very sharply defined. Its bill is stouter than that of any other 
form excepting loxgdrostrzs of South America, but is longer and 
more decurved than that of the latter. Odsoletus does not show 
great individual variation, and is doubtless correctly placed. 
FRallus scottiZ. Since naming this bird as a variety of Jonzgv- 
rostris in ‘The Auk,’ July, 1888, p. 305, I have received more 
specimens of the several forms of Rails. I have now no hesitancy 
in raising sco¢¢z7 to the rank of a full species. It is so black that 
it can at a glance be separated from all other Rails, and such 
numbers have been taken that it certainly can be considered com- 
mon if not abundant. In all its specific characters it is the most 
remote from true dong¢rostr7¢s of any form yet discovered. It is 
resident where found and shows less individual variation than any 
form I have seen. 
ANALYSIS. 
Rallus longirostris Bodd. Bill straight, short, stout, and square at 
base; upper parts brown in about equal parts with the grayish olive 
feather edgings; under parts pale with dull cinnamon on breast; axillars 
and flanks light brown, sometimes grayish brown. Average size: bill, 
2; wing, 5.40; tarsus, 1.75 inches. Hadcztat.—Eastern coast of South 
America. 
Rallus longirostris caribeus Azdg. Bill long, slender, decurved, and 
much compressed at base; colors same as in PR. longtrostr’s. Average 
size: bill, 2.40; wing, 5.75; tarsus, 1.85 inches. Habdbztat.— West Indies 
and Texas. 
Rallus coryi Mayzard. Bill short, straight, not so stout norsquare as in 
longirostris, nor yet as slender as in carébe@us ; upper parts pale brown in 
about equal portions with the light olive gray edgings to feathers; under 
parts pale gray, washed on breast with dull cinnamon; axillars and flanks 
faded brown with rather broad white bars. Size of type: bill, 2.05; wing, 
5-50; tarsus, 1.70 inches. Hadztat.—Bahamas. 
Rallus crepitans Gmel. Bill long, slender, compressed, and decurved ; 
upper parts plumbeous gray, predominating over the brown or olive 
brown stripes; under parts have little rufous or cinnamon; axillars and 
